The planet Mars has always held a compelling fascination for humanity. For this reason it has played a central role in ancient folklore, science fiction stories and modern astronomy. More has been written about Mars – both fact and fiction – than all the other planets combined. It is almost certain to be the first planet beyond the Earth visited by our species, perhaps within the next 30 years.

Howard Simkover was a Producer-Lecturer with the Montreal Planetarium for many years, and also spoke on astronomy in Ottawa at the National Museum of Science & Technology. In this highly visual presentation, he will share many perspectives about Mars – from the ancient Greeks, to science fiction tales of Martian invasions, to what we are experiencing of Mars through 21st Century spacecraft.